Spinal implant containing multiple bone growth promoting materials
An interbody spinal fusion implant for surgical implantation within a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies in a segment of a human spine includes multiple bone growth promoting materials. The implant includes upper and lower portions for contacting each of the adjacent vertebral bodies when positioned therein. Each of the upper and lower portions have at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies. The openings are in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through the implant. The implant includes a hollow interior for holding bone growth promoting material. In one embodiment, the bone growth promoting material includes a liquid fusion promoting material and a solid fusion promoting material other than bone provided in at least a portion of the hollow interior to promote bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through the implant.
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This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/563,705, filed May 2, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,880; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/126,585, filed Jul. 31, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,001; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/926,334, filed Sep. 5, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,503; which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/589,787, filed Jan. 22, 1996 now abandoned; which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/219,626, filed Mar. 28, 1994 now abandoned; all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to surgical interbody fixation devices and in particular to a surgically implantable device for the stabilization of adjacent vertebrae of the human spine undergoing spinal arthrodesis and for the prevention of the dislodgement of spinal fusion implants used in the fusion process.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a segment of the human spine degenerates, or otherwise becomes diseased, it may become necessary to surgically remove the affected disc of that segment, and to replace it with bone for the purpose of obtaining a spinal fusion by which to restore more normal, pre-morbid, spatial relations, and to provide for enhanced stability across that segment. Performing such surgery of the spine from an anterior (front) approach offers the great advantage of avoiding the spinal cord, dural sac, and nerve roots. Unfortunately, in entering the disc space anteriorly a very important band-like structure called the anterior longitudinal ligament, is violated. This structure physiologically acts as a significant restraint resisting the anterior displacement of the disc itself and acting as a tension band binding the front portions of the vertebrae so as to limit spinal hyperextension.
Historically, various devices have been utilized in an attempt to compensate for the loss of this important stabilizing structure. These devices have assumed the form of blocks, bars, cables, or some combination thereof, and are bound to the vertebrae by screws, staples, bolts, or some combination thereof. The earliest teachings are of a metal plate attached to adjacent vertebrae with wood-type screws. Dwyer teaches the use of a staple-screw combination. Brantigan U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,256 issued on May 10, 1988, teaches the use of a block inserted to replace the disc, affixed to a plate then screwed to the vertebrae above and below. Raezian U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,112 issued on Aug. 30, 1993, teaches the use of a turnbuckle affixed to an elongated staple such that at least one entire vertebral body is removed, the turnbuckle portion is placed within the spine, and the staple extends both above and below the turnbuckle and engages the adjacent vertebrae to the one removed.
Unfortunately, both staples and screws have quite predictably demonstrated the propensity to back out from the vertebrae. This is quite understandable as any motion, either micro or macro, tends to stress the interface of the metallic implant to the bone, and in doing so causes the bone to relieve the high stress upon it by resorbing and moving away from the metal. This entropic change is universally from the more tightened and thus well-fixated state, to the less tightened and less fixated state. For a staple, this is specifically from the more compressed and engaged state, to the less compressed and disengaged state. Similarly, screws in such a dynamic system loosen and back out.
The potential consequences of such loosening and consequent backing out of the hardware from the anterior aspect of the vertebral column may easily be catastrophic. Because of the proximity of the great vessels, aortic erosions and perforations of the vena cava and iliac vessels have usually occurred with unfortunate regularity and have usually resulted in death.
Therefore, the need exists for a device which is effective in restoring stability to a segment of the spine such as, but not limited to, the anterior aspect of the human spine and which will without danger remain permanently fixated once applied.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a spinal fixation device for stabilizing a segment of the human spine and for preventing the dislodgement of intervertebral spinal fusion implants, which remains permanently fixated to the spine once applied. The spinal fixation device of the present invention comprises a staple member made of a material appropriate for human surgical implantation and which is of sufficient length to span the disc space between two adjacent vertebrae. The staple member engages, via essentially perpendicular extending projections, the vertebrae adjacent to that disc space. The projections are sharpened and pointed so as to facilitate their insertion into the vertebrae and are segmented or ratcheted to prevent the staple member from disengaging and backing out once inserted.
In the preferred embodiment of the spinal fixation device of the present invention, a portion of the staple member interdigitates with an already implanted intervertebral spinal fusion implant and the staple member is bound to the spinal fusion implant by a locking mechanism such as a screw with a locking thread pattern. The anchoring of the staple member via a locking mechanism to a spinal fusion implant protects the patient from the danger of the staple member itself disengaging and backing out. Further, if the spinal fusion implant is externally threaded, such as the spinal fusion implant taught by Michelson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,247 issued on May 14, 1991, then the staple member could only back out if the spinal fusion implant were free to rotate. However, the rotation of the spinal fusion implant in this instance is blocked by its connection to the staple member which is fixated across the disc space in such a way as to be incapable of rotation. Thus, the staple member is made safe against dislodgement by attachment to the spinal fusion implant and the stability of the spinal fusion implant is assured as it is also stabilized by the staple member and each works in connection with the other to remove the only remaining degree of freedom that would allow for the disengagement of either.
The spinal fixation device of the present invention is broadly applicable to the anterior, posterior and lateral aspects of the spinal column, be it the cervical, thoracic or lumbar area. In particular, the use of a staple member spanning the disc space and engaging the adjacent vertebrae which is applied to the anterior aspect of the spine is of great utility in restraining those vertebral bodies from moving apart as the spine is extended and thus is effective in replacing the anterior longitudinal ligament of the patient.
The spinal fixation device of the present invention provides the advantage of facilitating cross vertebral bony bridging (fusion via immobilization) which when achieved relieves all of the forces on the inserted spinal fusion implants. The spinal fixation device of the present invention may be coated with materials to promote bone fusion and thus promote the incorporation and ultimate entombment of the spinal fixation device into the bone fusion mass The use of a bone fusion promoting material results in a speedier vertebra to vertebra fusion as bone may grow along the coated spinal fixation device bridging the two vertebrae so that the spinal fixation device acts as a trellis and supplies essential chemical elements to facilitate the bone fusion process.
Another advantage provided by the spinal fixation device of the present invention is that as it is inserted it compresses the adjacent vertebrae together, thus increasing the compressive load on the spinal fusion implants or implants within the disc space, such compression being beneficial to fusion and further stabilizing the spinal fusion implants.
A further advantage of the spinal fixation device of the present invention is that it may be used as an anchor such that a multiplicity of spinal fixation devices may then be interconnected via a cable, rod, bar, or plate, so as to achieve or maintain a multi-segmental spinal alignment.
Alternatively, the spinal fixation device of the present invention could be made of resorbable materials, such as bio-compatible resorbable plastics, that resorb at an appropriate rate such that once the spinal fixation device is no longer needed (i.e. when spinal fusion is complete) the body would resorb the spinal fixation device. The spinal fixation device could be only in part resorbable such that the projections of the staple member would be non-resorbable and would remain incarcerated in the vertebrae and sealed off once the resorbable portion of the staple is resorbed by the body.
As a further alternative, the spinal fixation device of the present invention could be made wholly of in part of ceramic and more particularly made of or coated with a ceramic such as hydroxyapatite that would actively participate in the fusion process.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a spinal fixation device having a staple member spanning the disc space and engaging two adjacent vertebrae of the spine to restrain the vertebrae from moving apart as the spine is extended;
It is an another object of the present invention to provide a spinal fixation device that is effective in replacing the function of the anterior longitudinal ligament of a patient;
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means for protecting the patient from the danger of the spinal fixation device itself disengaging and backing out by its being anchored to an intervertebral spinal fusion implant;
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a spinal fixation device that blocks the rotation of an intervertebral spinal fusion implant by its connection to the staple member which is fixated across the disc space in such a way as to be incapable of rotation thereby preventing the spinal fusion implant from backing out;
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a spinal fixation device that is broadly applicable to the anterior aspect of the spinal column, be it the cervical, thoracic or lumbar area;
It is another object of the present invention to provide a spinal fixation device which may be applied longitudinally at any point about the circumference of the anterior aspect of the spine;
It is also another object of the present invention to provide a spinal fixation device that stabilizes a surgically implanted spinal fusion implant and works in connection with the spinal fusion implant to prevent disengagement of either;
It is another object of the present invention to provide a spinal fixation device that achieves cross vertebral bony bridging (fusion) which ultimately relieves all of the forces on intervertebral spinal fusion implants inserted within the disc space between two adjacent vertebrae, and provides for a permanently good result;
It is another object of the present invention to provide a spinal fixation device that serves as an anchor, such that a multiplicity of these anchors may then be interconnected via a cable, rod, bar, or plate, so as to achieve or maintain a multi-segmental spinal alignment; and
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spinal fixation device that directly participates in the bony bridging of two adjacent vertebrae and participates in the spinal fusion process across those vertebrae.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a review of the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of the drawings.
Referring to
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In the preferred embodiment of the spinal fixation device 10, the top member 14 has a width ranging from 6.0 mm to 28.0 mm, with 10.0 mm being the preferred width, and having a thickness in the range of 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm, with 3.0 mm being the preferred thickness. The staple member 12 is made of material appropriate for human surgical implantation including all surgically appropriate metals such as but not limited to, titanium, titanium alloy, chrome molybidium alloys, stainless steel; or non-metallic materials including permanent or resorbable substances or composites, carbon fiber materials, resins, plastics, ceramics or others.
Further, the staple member 12 of the present invention may be treated with, or even composed of, materials known to participate in or promote in the fusion process or bone growth. The spinal fixation device 10 may be coated with materials to promote bone fusion and thus promote the incorporation and ultimate entombment of the spinal fixation device 10 into the bone fusion mass. The use of a bone fusion promoting material such as, but not limited to hydroxyapatite, hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate or bone morphogenic protein, results in a speedier vertebra V to vertebra V fusion as bone may grow along the coated spinal fixation device 10 bridging the two vertebrae V so that the spinal fixation device 10 acts as a trellis and supplies essential chemical elements to facilitate the bone fusion process.
Referring again to
The staple member 12 is most effective when the interprojection distance I between projections 16 and 17 is at least 4.0 mm and preferably 6.0 mm greater than the diameter of the particular spinal fusion implant 40 for which the spinal fixation device 10 is being used so that at least 2.0 mm and preferably 3.0 mm of bone from the vertebrae V will be present between the spinal fusion implant 40 and each of the projections 16 and 17. Typically, intervertebral spinal fusion implants have a diameter that ranges from 12.0 mm to 28.0 mm, therefore, the interprojection distance I typically will range from 18.0 mm to 34.0 mm for most applications.
In the preferred embodiment, the projections 16 and 17 comprise a series of segmented and ratcheted portions 34. The segmented and ratcheted portions 34 provide for a “one way” insertion of the staple member 12 to prevent the backing-out of the projections 16 and 17 once they are inserted into the bone of the vertebrae V. In the preferred embodiment, each segmented and ratcheted portion 34 of the projections 16 and 17 is conical in shape and the diameter of each segmented and ratcheted portion 34 increases in the direction from the distal end 32 toward the top member 14 so that the projections 16 and 17 resemble a stack of cones. The segmented and ratcheted portions 34 are spaced approximately 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm apart, with 3.0 mm being the preferred distance between each segmented and ratcheted portion 34.
Referring to
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In the preferred embodiment, the projections 16 and 17 each have a diameter of approximately 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm, with 3.0 mm being the preferred diameter at the widest point. The projection 16 and 17 each have a length ranging from 16.0 mm to 28.0 mm, with 22.0 mm being the preferred length when the spinal fixation device 10 is implanted in the direction of the anterior aspect of the vertebra V to the posterior aspect of the vertebrae V. Alternatively, it is appreciated that the projections 16 and 17 each could have a longer length depending on the diameter of the vertebrae V in which the projections 16 and 17 are implanted.
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The driving instrument 80 has a pair of short posts 88a and 88b extending from the bottom flat member 84. The posts 88a and 88b are oriented on the bottom flat member 84 so as to correspond to the position of the openings 22a and 22b in the upper surface 20 of the top member 14 of the staple member 12. Each of the posts 88a and 88b fit into each of the openings 22a and 22b and keep the staple member 12 aligned on the bottom flat member 84 of the driving instrument 80. It is appreciated that the openings 22a and 22b in the top member 14 may be depressions within the surface 20 of the top member 14 or may be holes that pass through the top member 14. In the preferred embodiment, the openings 22a and 22b gave a diameter ranging from 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm, with 2.5 mm being the preferred diameter.
Referring to
The driving instrument 80′ has a pair of short posts 88′a, 88′b, 88′c and 88′d extending from the bottom flat member 84′. The posts 88′a-88′d are oriented on the bottom flat member 84′ so as to correspond to the position of the openings 222a-222d of the spinal fixation device 210. Each of the and keep the spinal fixation device 210 aligned on the bottom flat member 84′ of the driving instrument 80′.
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Once the drilling of the insertion holes 53a and 53b is completed, the drill template instrument 50 is removed from the spinal fusion implant 40 and from the alignment rod 70. The alignment rod 70 is left in place attached to the threaded aperture 45 of the spinal fusion implant 40.
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It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that when the bone of the vertebrae V is sufficiently soft, a shorter method (hereinafter referred to as the “Short Method”) of inserting the spinal fixation device 10 is possible by omitting the steps of drilling the insertion holes 53a and 53b prior to inserting the staple member 12 into the vertebrae V.
Referring to
Once the staple member 12 is driven into the vertebrae V, the steps of the longer method described above are used to secure the spinal fixation device to the spinal fusion implant 40 are the same. The Short Method of inserting the staple member 12 reduces the amount of time required to insert and secure the spinal fixation device 10 of the present invention and thus reduces the overall duration of the spinal fixation surgical procedure.
While the present invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiment, it is recognized that alternative embodiments of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept.
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The lower surface 530 has knobs 532 and 534 extending therefrom for engaging and interdigitating with a spinal implant 540 having an insertion end 541 with openings 542 and 544 for receiving knobs 532 and 534 respectively.
Referring to
The spinal fixation device 510 having a staple member 512 is the preferred embodiment of the present invention for use with a multi-segmental spinal alignment means 600 described in greater detail below in that the staple 512 provides a more solid anchoring means that can resist greater torsion forces resulting from the application of the multi-segmental spinal alignment means 600 to align the spine.
Alternatively, for all of the embodiments described above, the spinal fixation device 10 of the present invention could be made of resorbable materials, such as bio-compatible resorbable plastics, that resorb at an appropriate rate such that once the spinal fixation device 10 is no longer needed (i.e. when spinal fusion is complete) the body would resorb the spinal fixation device 10. One such resorbable material is polygalactone, however any other resorbable plastic or other material safely usable within the human body are also within the scope of the present invention.
Further, the spinal fixation device could be only in part resorbable such that the projections 16 and 17 of the staple member 12 would be non-resorbable and would remain incarcerated in the vertebrae V and sealed off once the resorbable portion of the staple is resorbed by the body.
Referring to
When used as an anchor, each spinal fixation device 510 interdigitates with and is connected to a spinal fusion implant 610 having an insertion end 612, an interior chamber 614 and is inserted in the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae. The spinal fusion implant 610 has a threaded blind hole 620 for receiving a threaded post 622 therein. The blind hole 620 has a casing that is made of strong surgically, implantable material such as, but not limited to titanium. The casing 624 extends from the insertion end 612 of the spinal fusion implant 610 into the interior central chamber 614. The insertion end 612 has a rigid construction that is capable of withstanding high torsion forces resulting from the tensioning of the multi-segmental spinal alignment means to align segments of the spine. In the preferred embodiment, the insertion end 612 of the spinal fusion implant has an end portion 626 that closes the insertion end 612. The end portion is substantially thicker than the rest of the spinal fusion implant 610 and in the preferred embodiment, the end portion 626 has thickness ranging from 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm, with 2.5 mm being the preferred thickness.
Referring to
Once the threaded post 622 is attached to the spinal fusion implant 610, the head portion 630 of each threaded post 622 are connected to one another by the rod 634 having a sufficient diameter to fit through the hole 632 of each head portion 630. The rod 634 has at least a portion thereof that is threaded so that a plurality of lock nuts 638 may be used to secure the rod 634 to the head portions 630. The lock nuts 638 may also be used as length adjusting means to adjust the length of the rod 634 between head portions 630 so that segmental portions of the spine may be held closer together or held further aport for the purposes of aligning the spine. It is appreciated that a plurality of multi-segmental spinal alignment means 600 may be placed in series either on one side or on opposite sides of the spine, such that one side of the spine may be extended while the other side may be held stationary or may be compressed in order to achieve proper spinal alignment. The multi-segment spinal alignment may be maintained by keeping the rod tensioned with the lock nuts 638 or by any other means well known by those skilled in the art. It is also appreciated that in place of a rod 634 a cable, a plate or any other means well known by those skilled in the art may be used to interconnect the multi-segmental spinal alignment means.
Referring to
In the top member 714, instead of having projections 16 and 17, independent projection members 716 and 717 in the form of screws are used to secure the top member 714 of the spinal fixation device 710 to the vertebrae V of the spine. The projection screw members 716 and 717 each terminate in a sharp distal end 720 and 722 respectively, have a threaded portion 723, and have screw heads 724 and 726 for engaging a screw driver or similar driving instrument.
The top member 714 has a hole 728 on one end and a hole 730 at its other end through which each of the projection screw members 716 and 717 respectively, may pass. The projection screw members 716 and 717 pass through the holes 728 and 730 to engage the vertebrae V. Each of the holes 728 and 730 has a concentric counter sunk recess 732 for receiving and seating the screw heads 724 and 726 of the projection screw members 716 and 717 so that the screw heads 724 and 726 are flush or below the top surface 20 of the stop member 714 once inserted into the vertebrae V.
As the projection screw members 716 and 717 are threaded, they can be rotationally advanced into the vertebrae instead of by way of an impaction force such that the potential for damage to the vertebrae V is reduced. The threads of the threaded portion 723 follow one another as the projection screw members 716 and 717 are being screwed into the bone such that the integrity of the vertebrae V is preserved. Also, as the projection screw members 716 and 717 are independent from the top member 714, the penetration depth of the spinal fixation device 710 into the bone of the vertebrae V may be easily altered by selecting different sized projection screw members 716 and 717 appropriate for the particular vertebrae being fused. Further, it is possible to configure the holes 728 and 730 in the top member 714 such that the projection screw members 716 and 717 may be inserted into the vertebrae V from a number of different angles relative to the top member 714.
Adjacent and proximate to each of the holes 728 and 730 are threaded openings 740 and 742, respectively, for receiving locking screws 744 and 746 respectively. Each of the locking screws 744 and 746 have a head portion 750 and a locking thread portion 754 for threadably and lockably engaging the threaded openings 740 and 742. The locking screws 744 and 746 are attached to the top member 714 after the projection screw members 716 and 717 have been inserted into the vertebrae V. At least a part of the head portion 750 and 752 blocks and preferably makes contact with the screw projections 716 and 717 to prevent any unwanted loosening and outward excursion of the screw projections 716 and 717.
It is appreciated that the projection members 716 and 717, instead of being threaded screws, may have a number of other configurations such as, but not limited to, the configurations of the projections described above for the various embodiments of the present invention. If the projections members 716 and 717 are ratcheted instead of being threaded, they can be driven into the vertebrae V with a driving instrument and impaction force as described above for the method of the present invention.
While the present invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiment and a number of alternative embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept and-scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an interbody spinal fusion implant for surgical implantation within a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies in a segment of a human spine, said implant comprising upper and lower portions for contacting each of the adjacent vertebral bodies when positioned therein, each of said upper and lower portions having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower portions being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant, said implant including a hollow interior for holding bone growth promoting material, said hollow interior being in communication with at least one opening in each of said upper and lower portions, said implant having an insertion end for entry into the spine and a trailing end, said trailing end having a rear wall between said upper and lower portions;
- a liquid fusion promoting material in at least a portion of said hollow interior to promote bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant; and
- a solid fusion promoting material other than bone, said solid fusion promoting material being in at least a portion of said hollow interior to promote bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said upper and lower portions are arcuate along at least a portion of their length.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower portions further comprise a protrusion for engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said protrusion is a thread.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said insertion end is open for loading bone growth promoting material into said hollow interior.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an end cap for closing said open end.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hollow interior is a chamber and the bone growth promoting material includes a bone graft.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant is configured for implantation across the disc space in the thoracolumbar region of the human spine.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said spinal implant includes an artificial material other than bone.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is stronger than bone.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is harder than bone.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant comprises harvested bone.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said solid fusion promoting material includes at least one of hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said liquid fusion promoting material is bone morphogenetic protein.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant is treated with a bone growth promoting substance.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant is a source of osteogenesis.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant comprises at least one of a metal, a plastic material, and a ceramic material.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower portions of said implant have a non-threaded exterior surface.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant has a length, said upper and lower portions having a non-arcuate portion along at least a portion of the length of said implant.
21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant is formed of a porous material.
22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant is formed of a material that intrinsically participates in the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.
23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one opening is adapted to retain fusion-promoting materials.
24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said implant is treated to promote bone ingrowth between said implant and said adjacent vertebral bodies.
25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implant is in combination with harvested bone.
26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid fusion promoting material is bone morphogenetic protein.
27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said solid fusion promoting material includes at least one of a bioactive material and a bioresorbable material.
28. An apparatus comprising:
- an interbody spinal fusion implant for surgical implantation within a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies in a segment of a human spine, said implant comprising upper and lower portions for contacting each of the adjacent vertebral bodies when positioned therein, each of said upper and lower portions having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said openings of said upper and lower portions being in communication with one another and adapted for permitting for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant, said implant including a hollow interior for holding bone growth promoting material, said hollow interior being in communication with at least one opening in each of said upper and lower portions, said implant having an insertion end for entry into the spine and a trailing end, said trailing end being adapted so as to be connectable to another interbody spinal implant having a trailing end adapted to be connected to said interbody spinal fusion implant;
- a bioactive material in at least a portion of said hollow interior to promote bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant; and
- a bioresorbable material being in at least a portion of said hollow interior to promote bone growth from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.
29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein at least a portion of said upper and lower portions are arcuate along at least a portion of their length.
30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said upper and lower portions further comprise a protrusion for engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies.
31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said protrusion is a thread.
32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said insertion end is open for loading bone growth promoting material into said hollow interior.
33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising an end cap for closing said open end.
34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said hollow interior is a chamber and the bone growth promoting material includes a bone graft.
35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant is configured for implantation across the disc space in the thoracolumbar region of the human spine.
36. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said spinal implant includes an artificial material other than bone.
37. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is stronger than bone.
38. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant is made of an artificial material that is harder than bone.
39. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant comprises harvested bone.
40. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said bioactive material includes at least one of hydroxyapatite and bone morphogenetic protein.
41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein, when said bioresorbable material is tricalcium phosphate, said bioactive material is hydroxyapatite.
42. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant is treated with a bone growth promoting substance.
43. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant is a source of osteogenesis.
44. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
45. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant comprises at least one of a metal, a plastic material, and a ceramic material.
46. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said upper and lower portions of said implant have a non-threaded exterior surface.
47. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant has a length, said upper and lower portions having a non-arcuate portion along at least a portion of the length of said implant.
48. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant is formed of a porous material.
49. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant is formed of a material that intrinsically participates in the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant.
50. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said at least one opening is adapted to retain fusion-promoting materials
51. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein at least a portion of said implant is treated to promote bone ingrowth between said implant and said adjacent vertebral bodies.
52. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said implant is in combination with harvested bone.
53. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein, when said bioresorbable material is tricalcium phosphate, said bioactive material is hydroxyapatite.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 15, 2002
Date of Patent: Mar 29, 2011
Patent Publication Number: 20020095155
Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. (Warsaw, IN)
Inventor: Gary Karlin Michelson (Venice, CA)
Primary Examiner: Melanie Tyson
Attorney: Martin & Ferraro, LLP
Application Number: 10/098,683
International Classification: A61B 17/70 (20060101);
